Ireland ‘on track’ to access €600m in research funding by 2013

Ireland is on target to access €600m in research funding by 2013, the Minister for Research and Innovation Sean Sherlock has said.

Sherlock will speak with research ministers at an informal meeting of the Competitive Council in Budapest, Hungary, today.

He will also meet with EU Commissioner for Research and Innovation Máire Geoghan-Quinn on her proposals for a Common Strategic Framework for research and innovation. This will replace the current Framework Programme at the end of 2013.

The aim of these meetings is to help build stronger relationships in order to allow Ireland to maximise its position in the EU in terms of jobs and opportunities, said Sherlock.

“Thanks to national investment in research, Ireland is participating in the Framework Programme from a far stronger position than ever before,” said Sherlock.

“A critical mass of research activity has developed in both the public and private sectors and the design of the current programme suits the needs of Irish researchers in many ways.

“The Framework Programme’s National Support Office, led by Enterprise Ireland, is charged with optimising Irish involvement in the programme and a target of €600m in research funding to Irish researchers and enterprises has been set for the period 2007 to 2013.

“Achievement of this target is well on track, with some €269m already awarded by the end of 2010, and I am determined that we will achieve the target set,” said Sherlock.